Pokemon Scarlet and Violet bring 400 Pokemon to the land of the Paldea Region, with 104 of these specimens being new creatures of Generation 9. While you can obtain each of these 400 Pokemon in-game, some are much harder to find than others for various reasons, including needing to meet special circumstances, tricky disguises, high rarity, and low spawn rates. But don’t worry; we’ve compiled everything you need to know before you begin your hunt for these creatures. Here are 10 rare Pokemon and where to find them in Scarlet & Violet.
Ralts
Ralts has been a fan-favorite in the Pokemon franchise since its Generation 3 debut. It is one of the most popular Psychic-Type evolution lines in the games due to both Gallade and Gardevoir having good potential as powerful, core members of your team. However, Ralts is an extremely rare Pokemon in the game with a very low spawn rate, as noted in its Pokedex entry.
On top of this, Ralts’ in-game habitat is one of the smallest in the game, with its entire home covering only a tiny square on the Paldea Region Map. While Ralts is said to live near towns, it seems catchable only outside of Los Platos, or in Terra Raids. For more details on the location Ralts can be found, check out our complete guide for where to find and catch Ralts in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
Riolu
Riolu is another popular Pokemon and is a worthy addition to any trainer’s team. This is because Riolu evolves into the powerful Fighting-Type Lucario, a powerful attacker with admirable success in Competitive Pokemon Battling. Keeping this information in mind, Riolu is an excellent choice for your team in Paldea but a nuisance to obtain due to its rarity.
Riolu is described in its Pokedex entry to be rarely seen, meaning it has a low spawn rate and will be more time-consuming to seek out than other Pokemon. While its rarity is an obstacle to overcome in your Riolu hunt, it’s also a Pokemon that is only available in one area in the game, meaning you can at least narrow your search to this location. When looking for Riolu, you will want to hunt in South Province (Area Four). For more in-depth instructions on hunting down Riolu, consider following our guide for where to find and catch Riolu in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.
Zorua
Zorua is well-known as a trickster in the Pokemon franchise, which plays out no differently in Scarlet & Violet. Zorua is a rare Pokemon with a low spawn rate, and hunting for one is also a little more complex than simply roaming the overworld and waiting for one to appear. This is due to the ability Illusion, which is the signature ability of Zorua and its evolution, Zoroark.
In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, the Illusion ability allows Zorua to disguise itself as other Pokemon in the overworld, much like Ditto’s transform ability. This means that any Pokemon you stumble across in the specific habitats they are known to live in may be a Zorua in hiding. For more detailed information on identifying Zoruas in disguise and where to search for them, check out our complete guide on where to find and catch Zorua in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.